Zeeland assault suspect waives prelim exam

By Erin DietzerSentinel Staff616-546-4231

Wednesday

Mar 13, 2019 at 6:14 PMMar 14, 2019 at 1:29 PM

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been update to clarify the defense lawyer's statement. The 'alleged victim's mother' refers to Jon Haveman's ex-wife, the mother of Butler's girlfriend. It does not refer to Haveman's mother.

ZEELAND — A Zeeland man suspected of violently assaulting another Zeeland man has waived his right to a preliminary exam in district court, and his case will now move to circuit court.

Shavez Waketa Butler, 24, has been in jail since July 7. Butler is suspected of assaulting Jon Haveman at Haveman’s ex-wife’s residence. He also led police on a foot chase through downtown Zeeland before being arrested. He has been charged with unlawful imprisonment, resisting and obstructing arrest and assault with intent to do great bodily harm.

Haveman was severely injured and airlifted to a hospital in Grand Rapids. His medical status has not been released. According to social media, Butler was dating Haveman's daughter. Zeeland Police Chief Tim Jungel said Butler was living at the residence where the assault took place.

Butler's court case was stalled for months in case the charges needed to be amended to include murder if Haveman died as a result of his injuries. It was also stalled after Butler was initially ruled incompetent to stand trial. Butler has been on medication since he was jailed, and has now been ruled competent.

Because he is now competent, Butler's attorney Tom Smith asked Judge Susan Jonas on Wednesday, March 13, if Butler's $50,000 bond could be changed to a personal recognizance bond, a written promise signed by the defendant promising he will show up for future court appearances and not engage in illegal activity while out on bond.

Smith said the conditions of the bond would be Butler staying on his medication and living either with a friend of his uncle or at Holland Rescue Mission.

“He is doing much better by all accounts, from the psychiatrist and my interviews with him," Smith said. "The alleged victim’s mother also told me she is willing to take Mr. Butler anywhere he needs to go to get medications, to go to court hearings, that kind of thing."

Prosecuting attorney Meghan Hurley argued against changing the bond, saying it took many months of medication to get Butler competent and staying in jail would ensure he'd stay on medication.